Chapter 4
From the time Nicole was recovering after giving birth, all the way until Ella started kindergarten, I was the one always there for her. Over all these years, Willa barely helped with the kid. If you add it all up, it wouldn't even reach two months.
I replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"Oh, is that so? If Willa's so amazing, why don't you just have her move in and be your live-in nanny? Let her handle your kid and all the housework for you."
Nicole was momentarily at a loss for words, but quickly shot back, "Mom, why do you always make it about Willa?
"She's been pampered her whole life, spoiled by my father-in-law and my husband. She wouldn't know the first thing about housework. How could she ever handle any of this?
"But you? You've always been hardworking and tough, always on top of things whether it's at home or out in the world. You've been doing this forever..."
I couldn't stand it anymore. I snapped, cutting her off.
"Nicole, do you even hear yourself right now?
"So what, am I just born to be your servant? Am I supposed to raise you, put you through school, and then keep waiting on you and your in-laws hand and foot for the rest of my life?"
Nicole was left speechless, stammering for a while before finally blurting out, "Why do you have to make it sound so harsh? You raised me, didn't you?
"Wasn't it so you could count on me when you're old? That's just how it works between parents and kids. If you won't help me out when I'm struggling, why should I even care about you when you need help?
"And let's be real, you're living with us now, getting all the benefits of a big city, great hospitals, fun stuff to do, all that. Tons of people would kill for this kind of life, you know?
"Do you even know how much that guest room you're staying in would cost if you rented it? It's 1,000 dollars a month! And you get to eat here every day, but we've never asked you to chip in for anything."
Even though I was already feeling so let down and heartbroken today, my heart just sank even deeper.
I demanded in disbelief, my voice rising.
"So let me get this straight. I take care of Ella, do all the housework, and look after the three of you. I'm already shelling out more than 1,500 dollars a month just to help with your groceries and mortgage, and you actually think I should be handing over even more money just to live here?"
Nicole looked guilty, and after a long pause, she finally grumbled.
"So after all this, you just want money from us? If that's what you want, just say it. Why do you always put on that selfless act in front of the relatives, like you're above it all?"
"Fine, if you really want to split hairs, Talon and I talked it over. The whole dinner was for your birthday, so it doesn't make sense for Willa to pay for it."
"Just say sorry to Willa first, then send her the 1,500 dollars for the meal."
I had just walked out of the airport when her words nearly made me miss a step and tumble down the stairs.
I snapped, "Nicole, how do you have the nerve to even ask that?
"I wasn't even at that dinner. I didn't eat a single bite. Why should I be the one paying for it?"
Nicole fired right back, not hesitating for a second.
"If it wasn't for your birthday, and you hadn't just bailed on us and refused to cook, would Willa have had to shell out all that cash for a restaurant meal for everyone?
"Even though you weren't there, we packed up the leftovers for you. With us at work during the day, that's enough food to last you a couple days at least."
It was so absurd I nearly burst out laughing in anger.
"Nicole, don't treat your own mother like a charity case, alright? It's my birthday, and you've done nothing but let me down again and again. I'm done talking to you."
"Let me make this clear one more time. I'm back in Ashenville, and I'm not coming back to Stoneville ever again."
Nicole totally lost it.
"Can you quit with the threats about moving back to Ashenville? It's getting old. If you leave, who's going to pick Ella up from school? Who's going to cook? Who's going to do the housework?"
I gave a faint smile. "If you need anything, just ask your oh-so-generous mother-in-law to help you out. I clearly am not good enough anymore."
With that, I hung up on her, ignoring her yelling.
Even after I got into the taxi, I just couldn't calm down.
After all the hardship and sacrifice I put into raising her, to end up with such an ungrateful brat... It honestly makes me feel so cold inside.
I remembered my daughter wasn't like this.
She used to be this little bundle curled up in my arms, then grew into a bright, independent girl. She finished school, started working in Stoneville, got married, had Ella... Honestly, she was never the kind of kid I had to worry about.
When did the daughter I held so close to my heart become someone I barely recognize?
Did I mess up raising her, or have I just never truly understood her at all?
It was almost ten by the time I finally got home to Ashenville.
No one had set foot in this place for a year. The dust was everywhere. I spent forever cleaning before I could finally crash onto the bed.
The family group chat was dead quiet, so I was just mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, feeling lost, when I happened to stumble on Nicole's latest post from an hour ago.
[A real family always sticks together. They never bail on you when things get rough. Shoutout to the best mother-in-law ever, always our rock. Honestly, she's even more of a mom to me than my own.]
The post had a family photo taken in a fancy private dining room.
Nicole was all cuddled up with Willa, and Ella was snuggled right between them. They looked so close and happy together, more like a real family than Nicole ever did with me.